Advance IGAD Verification Team Heads for Juba

Addis Ababa, Sunday 2nd February 2014: An advance team of the IGAD Joint
Technical Committee left for Juba this morning to start the process of
establishing the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism for the implementation of
the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement.

The 14-member team led by Major General (rtd) Gebreegzabher Mebrahtu of
Ethiopia and deputised by Major General Mohammed Amin Moustafa Eltinay of
Sudan is expected to meet with state and non-state stakeholders including loca
and international organizations in Juba and several locations in South Sudan. The

team will also assess the situation on the ground before the deployment of the
monitoring and verification teams in various parts of the country.

Furthermore, the team that includes military and civilian experts drawn from
IGAD Member States, the Troika and the Partners will also conduct a recce of the
areas for possible deployment of the monitors.

At the end of the five-day advance mission, the team will report back to the
IGAD Special Envoys in Addis Ababa by 7th February 2014 with recommendations
on the way forward.